APPLE 30" DISPLAY-WHAT CARD?! ATI? - Page 3

Adrian Wong · 21st Feb 2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cman

Im a friend of andersonson, and i think the MAC he has.
Has a AGP connection, if so, what do you guys thing would be a good card that displays HD?... I beleave there rare?

AGP? Then the GeForce 8800 GT is out of question. Maybe he can try for an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT....

cman · 12th Mar 2009, 06:04 AM

Hey guys,
Turns out its a PCI X slot.
what cards would you recommend for high definition?

Chai · 12th Mar 2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cman

Hey guys,
Turns out its a PCI X slot.
what cards would you recommend for high definition?

PCI X or PCI Express?

cman · 13th Mar 2009, 05:59 AM

..........PCI X

Adrian Wong · 13th Mar 2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cman

..........PCI X

Woah... That's bad news. I don't know of any current graphics card that supports PCI X...

andersonson · 12th Apr 2009, 09:48 PM

ok, so i've not replied to this for a while as i've been busy with my research and a big thank you for everybody helping me!
i think like you guys have said, my problem has come up because my slots are PCI-X and not PCI EXPRESS!!!!!
so i've spoken to a friend and he said i could change my motherboard and get a new graphics card too (ATI Radeon X1900 XT Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro has been reccommended on apples website). i ran my macbook pro through it and the hd was sweet.
is a new motherboard an idea? if so i was wondering on costs and whether i would have to reinstall all of my software programmes such as logic pro 7?!?!

cheers again

Adrian Wong · 13th Apr 2009, 12:42 AM

You will definitely have to get a new motherboard that support PCI Express if you want to upgrade. However, the cost may be prohibitive. It "might" be a better option to get a newer Mac?

Chai · 13th Apr 2009, 12:17 PM

I don't think Mac is very upgrade friendly. You might have to consider getting a new one.

bigpunter · 19th Apr 2009, 06:48 PM

andersonson,

Which graphics card is installed in your G5 at the moment?

I had a PowerMac G5 (sold this Jan), it was the Dual 2.7GHz with PCIX - mines had the ATi Radeon X650 PRO which supported the 30" ACD.

Newer models had PCIe slots and all the graphics cards supported it.

However, the PCIX slots are only the top 3. The one your graphics card is plugged into is actually a AGP 8x PRO slot.

Therefore as you said in your first post the best graphics card would be the nVidia 6600 Ultra.

The problem with Mac's is that they require the graphics card to have a specific BIOS and it must be Mac compatible. I.e. you can search on eBay for a 6600 Ultra and find one for about 40 notes, however the Mac versions will go for closer to 200.

If I'd look for either a X650 PRO / 6600 Ultra or sell the Power Mac and buy the new Mac Mini.

Yes, it sounds strange but the new Mini is far better. It's got a Intel processor, nVidia 9400M graphics (which are probably better than the 6600 Ultra) and you'd be future-proofed for a while.

Although if you have PPC specific apps or are using some of the PCIX slots for specialized cards the graphics card is the best way to go. Just seemed a waste to me spending 200+ on a card thats 4 years old.

Hope that helps.

andersonson · 29th Apr 2009, 02:25 AM

that is a brilliant post and really helpful. you are right about the slots. i will find out about the card as it doesnt say in my g5 booklet and so i will have to physically check it but i havent forgotten and i will find it out for you and send another post.interseting too about the mini mac, cheers again and speak very soon!

12th Apr 2009, 09:48 PM	#26 (permalink)
andersonson Newbie Join Date: 6 Dec 2008 Posts: 9 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	OH NO... ok, so i've not replied to this for a while as i've been busy with my research and a big thank you for everybody helping me! i think like you guys have said, my problem has come up because my slots are PCI-X and not PCI EXPRESS!!!!! so i've spoken to a friend and he said i could change my motherboard and get a new graphics card too (ATI Radeon X1900 XT Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro has been reccommended on apples website). i ran my macbook pro through it and the hd was sweet. is a new motherboard an idea? if so i was wondering on costs and whether i would have to reinstall all of my software programmes such as logic pro 7?!?! cheers again

13th Apr 2009, 12:42 AM	#27 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,304 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	You will definitely have to get a new motherboard that support PCI Express if you want to upgrade. However, the cost may be prohibitive. It "might" be a better option to get a newer Mac? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

13th Apr 2009, 12:17 PM	#28 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	I don't think Mac is very upgrade friendly. You might have to consider getting a new one. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

29th Apr 2009, 02:25 AM	#30 (permalink)
andersonson Newbie Join Date: 6 Dec 2008 Posts: 9 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	hey that is a brilliant post and really helpful. you are right about the slots. i will find out about the card as it doesnt say in my g5 booklet and so i will have to physically check it but i havent forgotten and i will find it out for you and send another post.interseting too about the mini mac, cheers again and speak very soon!

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12th Mar 2009, 06:04 AM	#22 (permalink)
cman Newbie Join Date: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 15 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Hey guys, Turns out its a PCI X slot. what cards would you recommend for high definition?

13th Mar 2009, 05:59 AM	#24 (permalink)
cman Newbie Join Date: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 15 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	..........PCI X

19th Apr 2009, 06:48 PM	#29 (permalink)
bigpunter Newbie Join Date: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	andersonson, Which graphics card is installed in your G5 at the moment? I had a PowerMac G5 (sold this Jan), it was the Dual 2.7GHz with PCIX - mines had the ATi Radeon X650 PRO which supported the 30" ACD. Newer models had PCIe slots and all the graphics cards supported it. However, the PCIX slots are only the top 3. The one your graphics card is plugged into is actually a AGP 8x PRO slot. Therefore as you said in your first post the best graphics card would be the nVidia 6600 Ultra. The problem with Mac's is that they require the graphics card to have a specific BIOS and it must be Mac compatible. I.e. you can search on eBay for a 6600 Ultra and find one for about 40 notes, however the Mac versions will go for closer to 200. If I'd look for either a X650 PRO / 6600 Ultra or sell the Power Mac and buy the new Mac Mini. Yes, it sounds strange but the new Mini is far better. It's got a Intel processor, nVidia 9400M graphics (which are probably better than the 6600 Ultra) and you'd be future-proofed for a while. Although if you have PPC specific apps or are using some of the PCIX slots for specialized cards the graphics card is the best way to go. Just seemed a waste to me spending 200+ on a card thats 4 years old. Hope that helps.